Folding furniture



Dec. 22, 1931.

M. SCHMALZGRUBER FOLDING FURNI TURE Filed Nov. 19, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1931- M. SCHMALZGRUBER 1,837,492

' FOLDING FURNITURE Filed Nov. 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A r TOE/YE) Dec. 22, 1931. M. scHMALzGRuBER FOLDING FURNITURE Filed Nov. 19, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 hml //v 1/5 7018 A4 JCHMALZGEUBFB 5 Y 9 A TTO/BNEY Lil Patented Dec. 22, 193 1:

' UNITED PA ENTf-oFF-ice5;

MATTHEW sonMAL'zGRUBEaoF MArLEwooD, MIssoURI FOLDING FURNITURE I Application filed November 19, 1930. Seria1 N o. 466,588.

This invention relates generally to folding furniture, and more specifically to a structure adapted for use in homes and apartments where the conservation ofspace is important and which provides for the folding of several articles of furniture into a single housing, the predominant object of the invention. being to provide a structure of this type which includes one or more beds, a table, and a plurality of chairs, all of which when notin' use may be folded into a common, compact housing.

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of my improved s'tructure showing the beds thereof in the extended positions as when in use.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the beds folded into the housing and the table and chairs of the structure arranged in the extended positions they-occupy when in use.,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section'through the structure showing all of the elements of furniture folded into the housing of the struc ture.

-Fig. 4 is avertical section of the structure showing the table and the chairs in their extended positions.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the beds extended.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing a portion of one of the doorsof-the structure and a foldable chair fixed thereto. v

in the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the housing of my improved structure, said housing including rear, end, bottom,and top walls secured together in the usual manner and suitably decoratedto provide an attractive structure. Preferably, though not necessarily, the housing, is surmounted byan upper structure B, which provides a plural.- ity of compartments, said compartments being adapted to receive such articles as dishes, glassware, silver, etc., or, if desired, one of the compartments may house a radio receivingset; r V

Arranged within the housing A and secured to the rear wall thereof is a guiding memberl (Figs. 3,4,and 5). Thisguiding member extends longitudinally of the rear wall of the housing A and is spaced vertitically with respect tothebottom wall of the housing. The guiding member 1 is provided with a guideway or channel2which extends longitudinally of the guiding member from end to endithereof. Secured to the bottom. wall of thehousing'A- is a strip of material 8 and a wider strip of material 4, said strips being spaced apart'from each other slightly to provide a guideway or channel 5 which is defined by the inner edges of the strips 3 and 4 and a portion of the top face of the bottom wall of the housing A. v The guide way or channel 5 is 'in vertical alinement with respect to theguideway or channel 2 inthe guiding member Supported for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing A is a panel 6 which constitutes apart of a bed carrier C, said bed carrierincludinga pair of vertically spaced elements; 7 and Sfwhichare secured to the panel '6 and extend outwardly therefrom. The element S is-slightly larger than. its associated element 7, as shown 'clearly'in" Fig. 5, and interposed between said elements at their inner end portions is a spacing and bracingmember 9. The elements 7 and; 8" and the'intermediate member 9 are securely fixed together by a fastening element 10, which passes through all of said elements, as shown in Fig, 5. From the foregoing it is plain that the bed carrier C provided by the.

combination ofthe elements 6, 7, 8', and: 9,

is movable as a unit. longitudinally of the housing A and within said housing, such movement of the bed carriage C being guided by the guideways or channels 2 and 5 into which the upper and lower edge. portions of the panel 6 are extended. To facilitate free movement of the panel 6 with respect to the guideway 5, I provide said panel with rollers formed in the panel. These rollersare rotat of the. guideway or channel 5. I

11 which are arranged in cutout portions portion of the top face of the bottom wall f of the housing A which; constitutes the base Adjacent to their outer ends the elements? 1 and 8 are provided with elongated slots 13 and 14, said slots being extended longitudi-v nally of said elements, as shown most clearly in Fig. '1. The slots 13Iand 14 receive the opposite end portions of an elongated, vertically disposed bolt 15 which provides a pivot for a bed rail16,'said bed'rail having an enrail 16 is pivotally supported by theibedmar end, and the bolt 15 being extendedlthroughw the slots 13 and, lain the elements? and .8

and through an aperture formed in said enlarged head portion of the bedraiL Because? of this arrangement, it is plain that th e bed rier C,the outer end portion of said bed rail being capable of'swingin'g in an arcot; a circle about thepivot 15; Also, because thepivot "15 is extended *throughtheelongated, slots 113""and 1t, it is plainthatthe bed railis -capable of movement longitudinally of; the elements ;7 and 8. The bed rail, atitsouter end,

is provided with an enlarged portion 18 (Figs. 1 and 5 )whi0h is rigidly. fixed to said bed rail-and constitutes'a unitary part thereof.

Hingedly attached to the bed rail' 16b} means of hinges 19 are beds 20 and '21 The beds are arranged side by side with the bed I rail interposed between them, as shown'in 21,- and because of the hinged arrangement'ofjthe beds with respecttothe vbed-rail V said-beds may bemoved-upwardly and ary ranged parallel with respect'to' each other, so that the transverse dimensions of the beds 7 are extended perpendicularly; Each" of the beds includes a box-like frame providedyby end elements 22,'an'outer'side member23, and r 'a bottom member 241. At the in'ner'si le o f tl1e frame ofeachbed no wall 'element 'i s provided, 7

as the bed rail 16' serves as theinnersidewall elements or" both beds when'said-be'ds 'are in their lowered and extended position as shown '1n1F1g. 1.ywithinthe frame ofeach bed I "provide the usual bed springand mattress,

put theseelements' are'notshown in the-drawes-3 r Y 7 Q s Secured to each bed at a po nt adgacentto the outer end thereof is a legfstructure25.

' This leg structure is hingedl-y attachedto the bottom of the associated bed by meanso-f 'ahinge 26 and is foldable i'earwardly and up- 1 wardlyagainst thebottom ojr'the bed." As

ialreadvstated, the beds 20 and2l aremo-v-e able to, elevated "positions where their trans verse] dimensions-are arranged perpendicularly, 1n which posltions the transverse d1- mensions of said beds are arranged parallel with each other Y such perpendicular positibns-l provide pai i iofjelernents 27 'whichare pivoted at QS to the enlarged head porti'ons 17 ofthe-bed rail-ld To maintain the-beds n "When the'beds' are in their lowered position,

as shown in Figs. Land 5, the elements 327 V are in the position best "illustratedfin 1. When, however, the bedsare elevatedfas already explained, and it is desired to' m'ainshown .ii'i'Fig. 2, a-pair of elementsdet, which tain the beds in such elevated positions, the elements are swung about on their pivots until they-assume the positions in which they are illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 1. This will cause the outer portions of the elements 127 to be positionedbeneath the extensions 22" at the inner endsof theend elements '22 of the fi ames of the beds, wherebjiithe beds will .beimaintained in their elevated position.

,Aslshown clearly in Fig. 5, the housing A 'i'spr'ovid e'd with'a strip of'inaterial 29, said strip ot material being'fixed within the housing and-being extended longitudinally there:

oat-1 5131132 stripioianatsliie 29 is Provided With depressions in which small antifriction roll- 'ensSOare Itotatabl-y arranged; 'Also, the 'element 18 'a-t the outer; end not the bedrail 16 is provided with cavities in V which antifriction" rollers 31 -'arerotatably arranged, said rollers extended 'a islight distance below the bottomface ozf said element-18L Whenthe'beds 20 and 210i? myiinproved structure are in their lowered and extended positions, as shownin Figs land 5, anditis desired to foldsaid beds and moveisameinto'.

movement of the bed carrier the outer end portions of th'e beds; are; swung 111115118 direc- 'tion HIdICatQd' by-the unfeathered arrow in Fig. 1 about the pivot 15, This movement of 'th'e-beds=- and thebed -carrier C will be continued until the outer ends of-the-beds pass intoathe housing A. at theright-ha'nd end of the opening in the frontwall of the housing,

which is clos'ed'iby the-doors 32 of the 'hous-, .*1ng;-;anduvhen-tliebeds have passed into the hous ng said bedswill; be disposed as shown.

in Figs5-"3 and 4; The purpose of the antifriction" rollers :30 and131 is to facilitate movement ofthe folded" beds as just described, the "beds moving along' the rollers 80 as such movement of the beds takes place and the rollers 31' moving along atransverse member "33 located within the housing when "the'outer-endportions are moved into said housing? When the 'beds have been moved uslngA'as-des'fcribed, and as best are pivoted at 3510 the front wall of the housing are moved to positions where-the 'endsof said elementsopposite to the pivoted ends thereof are moved 7 into engagement "to'inove inft he -direction -indicated bythe feathered arrow in Fig; 1, and during such wiar he outermost ofthe beds,'wherebysaid 2 until the table top against the bottom wall of the bed 20, where- .uponthe elements50, which are pivoted at folded beds are "held rigid with respectto the housing A.

Fixed to the bottom wall of the bed 20 at the inneredge thereof is a guiding member 36,'and arranged at the Opposite or'outer edge of'said bottom wall'of said bed is a simi lar guiding member 37 The guiding menu bers 36 and 37 extend longitudinally of the bed 20and are provided with guideways 38 and 39, respectively, the guideways'of the elements 36 and Y37 being alined with each other in a direction parallel with respect to the bottom wall of'the bed. 4O designates a table carrier which comprises a panel,'said panel having its upper and lower edgepor ing secured to a block 43; The block 43 is secured to the inner end portion of a tablesupporting rail 44 which is preferably provided withportions 45 of increased thickness. 46 designates a table topwhich is hing- 'edly attached to the table supporting rail 44 by means of hinges 47, said hinges being attached to said table top and to said tablesupporting rail at the thickened portions 45 thereof At the outer end portion of the table top 46-and at the bottom face thereof I attach, by means of hinges 48, a leg structure 49 which serves to support the table top when same is in its extended position, as shown in Fig. 4, the lower end of the leg structure contacting with the floor. y Y 7 Then it is desired to use the table of my improved structure, said table is positioned as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the inner end of the table being supported, through the instrumentalityof the hinge '42, by the panel 40, and the outer end portion of the table will be supported by the leg structure 49. When the table is to be moved toits folded position, pressure is applied thereto and the table carrier, which is the panel 40, is moved in the direction indicated by the featheredarrow in Fig. 2. At the same time the table top is moved on the hinges 47 to a position whereit is arranged on edge, and the leg structure 49 is folded against the table top.

The table top 46 and table-supporting rail 44 are then swung on the hinge 42 in the direction indicated by the unfeathered arrow in is arranged flat 51 to the bottom wall ofjthe bed 20, will'be moved to a position where the table structure is engaged by said elements 50 tomaintain said folded table structure in its folded position with respect to the bed 20.

1 The "doors 32 of thestructure preferably comprise pairs of door sections atopposite sides'of the door opening of;the housing A; I that is to say, at each side'ofthe dooropening a door is-hinged at 52 to the front wall ofjthe housing A, which door comprises a pair of door sections hinged together at 53. Fixed to each door section ofthe doors 32 is a pair of spaced apart extensions 54whieh are .provided with alined, vertically extendedslots-55.

56 designates a chair seat (Fig. 6). which is securedto the associated 'door section by a horizontal rod 57, said'rodpassing through v V the chair seat at the rearportion thereof and having itsoppositej end portion extended s through the slots 55 in jtheextensions 54 The chair seat, adj acent to its forward edge and at its bottom face, is {provided with an element 58 to which a pair of spaced legs59 is pivotallyattached at 60. These legs'59g when in their operative positionsextend downwardly and rearwardly from the pivotal point 60, and 'at their approximate longitudinal centers said legs 59 have attached to them by mean's'of a pivot 6l a leg structure 62 The leg structure62'isinterposed between the spaced legs 59v of the chair, and when said leg structureis initsoperative position as illustrated inFig.'6,"the upper end of the leg structure 62 contacts with a block 63 secured to the bottom face of the chair seat. Theback' of the chair is provided by. an element64 which is of approximately the same width as the chair seat, said element being secured at its upper end to the, associated door section and having a laterally extended lower'end portion 65,-the innerend of which contacts with the door section to give the seat back the proper inclination; The back 64 preferably will be formed from some suitable yieldable-material, which will give some resiliency to the seat back, and said seat back will 'be' covere'd "by" suitable cloth or leather covering material which will enhance the appearance thereof." Secured to the block 63 is a book 66, andattached to the associated door section at the point where the seat back is attachedthereto is a strip of suitable-yield able-material'67, said strip or yieldable material'havingan eye 68'- attached thereto at itsfreeendg 7 When my improved structure is being used with the table in an extended position, the

doors 32 may be moved to positions where they extend outwardly at substantial right angles with respect to the front wall of the housing A. The chairs being arranged in their unfolded condition, said chairs will be in the proper positions "tobe occupied by persons seated at the table. When it isdesired to fold the'table and move-same into the housing A, the chairs willbe folded against the associated door sections, as shown in Figs.

1 and 3, and the strips 64 willbe arranged about the out'sideof said folded chairs with the eyes 68 engaging theehookst66s fllhisaWill 'lVith-Hthechairs ama-is described, and

conditions against thepdoor sections When the chairs; are: folded as described rthel chair hacks will-extend across the topsoffthe folded chairs and; will extend downwardly in; front of saidioldedlchairs, eachoisaid chairbacks being capable: of hinging at the. point. desig; nated by-thei reference charac-ter;69 in aEig, ,3

to; permit such-arrangement of: thechair backs. 4

7 With; the beds, and table: folded ithin the I, very attractive article of furniture; 7 WV-hile housingAi, itiis plain that'the doors32r may beimoved topositions wherea thevclose the door. opening atfthe; front; of; the, housing.

When this is 1 done-a it isiobv-iouswthat allf the v-foldable furniture vele'mentsaw'illbe folded into-thehousin'g-A; Also, .vv'henthe beds are being; used the doorsi32-,andachairs nlay; be

1: illustrate my improved? s tr-nctune as being apart fromnthe building-in which" it is used,

' itis' obvious that if desired the housing, A

of mystructrire-niaybe built-into: a-wall .of a

'building. I

In order; to, support; thei beds ofi -myg" improved structure when they are being,- folded I or. unfolded while; in outwardly extended positions, Lprovide a leg 7 5 :Whiehiishinged at 76'to the outer: end;portiongofthe.- bed rail 16. I herlegflfi-is provided W-itha roller 77 which is'rotatably mounted.: at the lower endg'ofsaid legiso that" said: roilerwoontacts aidins-winging the 'beds- -a boutg;when-. they are being moved to position for introduction-into theihousinguofl then-structure; The; leg; is

movableito the; inoperative position inawhieh "same is shown bydotted-lines; in [Fig-g5 when v the beds are moved into the housing-10f; the

i structure, and-a-catch 78;(Eig;. 2)is-provided for maintaining said log-in such =inoperative position.-

lclaiml-z r v r A structure Off the class-describedicomprising athousing, n-carriermounted Within said housing, meansfor fguiding said ,carrier for& sliding, movement.;with respect to; said housing, a bed-supporting rail ipivotally. and 'sli'dablyattached to said scarrier, ,and pair porting, rail: I

2.. VA strnct roof the 01s,; idescrib'edcomprisin g aghousing, a: carriermonnted Within fingtthe outerend'ofisaid table. I

g-sam said housing, [means :foi: gniding ,said carrier for sliding movement "with res'pect' tosaid housing, a bedsupportingrail; pivotally v and siidably attached lit'o; saidv carrier, a {pair of beds ,hii gedly attached to saidf'bed s'upports ing grail, said beds sh eing foldable ztogether in upright. positions, and 'means forfl maintaina ing the beds in; such, upriglifipositions. I

A, structure: of tlieziclass deseribedlcomprising a housing, a. carrier mounted Within 'saidfhousing, meanslfor guiding said carrier for, sliding. movement 7 with, respect to said housing, j a bedQsupporting rrail. pivotally and siid'ably attached: to saidcarrier, a pair of beds hingedly attachefd'to said bed-supportingfrail, saidbeds being faildabl'e together Withithe transverse dimensionsthereof extended perpendicularly: and'f being. .mova'ble into said housing, means for maintaining said beds n. such perpendlcular' PlOSltIOIlS, and 7 means for, maintaining the. positions; of the folded beds Within the housing i A strncture of'the class described'conn prisingl a housing, a carrier mounted ithin said housing, means; for guidingsaid carri'er' for sliding' movementlwith respect to said housing, a bed-supporting'railvpivot'ally' and slidably attached to: saidv carrier, a. pair of beds. hingedly attachedito said bed-support- 'ing rail,fandfoldable legsattached"tov the beds at the outer/ends thereofil 5."A,,structure oflithe class-described'comprising aihousing, a bed carrienmounted within said housing, meansfoiflgulding. said bed carrier for slidn'ig movement Withrespect tosaid housing, a bed Ipivotaily supported by 'saidcarrie'r and 'foldableivvithin said housing, as table, and means; for vfoldably attaching sa-id' table to said i bed, chef last-mentioned l means ineluding a table carrier, guiding elements fixed to 1 said bed for supporting said table carrier. for" sliding; movemenhfatabld supportingrall,means for plvotall-y attacha ing saidtahle-supportingrailto said table carrier, and hinge meansfor hingedly attach} ing said-table to said table-supportingrail. v

6. A structureof the class describedlcomprising; a' hous ng, a bed carrier mounted withln'sa1df'hous1ng,mcans for gu ding said bedcariier for sliding, movement with re spect to) said housing,- a bed pivotally sup;

porte'd by saidcarrielr' and foldabl'ewithin' said housing, a table, means {for fold'ably attachin'grsaidrtable' to said' 'bed, the last-mentioned mean s including a table carrier, ,guid

ing-elem-ents fixed'to said bedfor supporting saidtable carrierffor sliding movement a 'le-sup porting rail, means foripivotally attachlng said,table supporting rail to said table carrier, and hinge. means "for hingedlv rail, and ajfolldahleleg structure forsupport- 7I 'Alstructure of the class described comattaching said table to sai-d table=supporting prising a housing, ,a bed 'carrier mounted I within said housing, means for guiding said bed carrier for sliding movement with respect to said housing, a bed pivotally supported by said carrier and foldable within said housing, a table, means for foldably attaching said table to said bed, the last-mentioned means includinga table carrier, guiding elements fixed to said bed for supporting said table carrier for sliding movement, a

table-supporting rail, means for pivotally attaching said table-supporting rail to said table carrier, and hinge means for hingedly attaching said table to said table-supporting rail, a foldable leg structure for supporting the outer end of said table, said table being foldable into position adjacent to said bed, and means for maintaining'said table in such folded position. I

8. A structure of the class described comprising a housing, a carrier mounted within said housing, means forguiding said carrier for sliding movement with respect to said housing, a bed-supporting rail pivotally attached to said carrier and movable to a position where its longitudinal dimension is parallel with respect to the direction of travel of said carrier, and a bed hinged along one of its longitudinal sides to said rail so as to be foldable upwardlyand movable with said rail into said housing.

9. A structure of the class described 'comprising a housing, arcarrier mounted within said housing, means for guiding said carrier for. idi g movement with respect to said housing, a bed-supporting rail pivot-ally attached to said carrier and movable to a position where its longitudinal dimension is parallel with respect to the direction of travel of said carrier, and a pair of beds hinged along longitudinal sides thereof to said rail so as to be foldable upwardly and movable with said rail into said housing. I

In testimony that I- claim the foregoing I hereunto aflix my signature.

MATTHEW SCHMALZGRUBER. 

